Bu Sk 88. Not lowering the eyes
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dutiyaokkhittacakkhu
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Sutta on Not Lowering the Eyes (Dutiyaokkhittacakkhu)
Background
This sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Suttavibhaṅga (the Suttavibhaṅga section pertaining to bhikkhunīs). The rules in this section were established by the Buddha to govern the conduct of bhikkhunīs (nuns), with the aim of maintaining discipline and diligence within the community of the holy Sangha. This sutta concerns the restraint of the sense faculties, and in particular the mindful use of the eyes.
The context arises when bhikkhunīs fail to comply with the rule regarding the guarding of the eyes while moving about in daily circumstances. Whether or not one lowers the eyes and restrains the gaze is not merely a matter of demeanor; it bears directly upon the protection of the mind from unnecessary impressions that may give rise to agitation or defilement.
Principal Content
The Sutta on Not Lowering the Eyes emphasizes the principle of indriyasaṃvara — restraint of the sense faculties. The Buddha teaches that when moving about, monastics should keep their eyes cast downward and should not allow the gaze to wander here and there. This practice arises from a profound understanding of how the mind operates: what we look upon directly influences the state of the mind.
This rule does not prohibit seeing altogether, but rather encourages a kind of watchfulness, a conscious attentiveness. By keeping the eyes lowered, a bhikkhunī maintains a state of inner stillness and avoids being drawn in by external phenomena. This is part of the five faculties — the set of five spiritual powers comprising faith (saddhā), energy (viriya), mindfulness (sati), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (paññā).
Failure to lower the eyes, or allowing the eyes to wander, is regarded as a form of immodesty and a loss of the composure befitting one who has gone forth. It also reflects a mind that is unsettled and prone to distraction. By contrast, a well-restrained gaze is a mark of the monastic who possesses strong concentration and high discipline.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.